laudercastle.bsky.social

We now see that #plastic we drink, eat, breathe harms the human body. But documents from 20y ago show industry scientists aware that microplastic migrates thro gut landing in important organs. Anyone surprised? Deja vu cigarettes, climate change - harmful data ignored and/or we were misinformed.

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Inside the world’s first ‘AI election’ In what has been called the world’s first 'AI election', Siobhan Kennedy explores whether artificial intelligence will influence how Israelis vote at the polls. Read our latest newsletter:

UK artist Helen Musselwhite combines hand cutting, folding and scoring paper and card to create her artworks, which are often inspired by nature #WomensArt #Autumn

“The Matthew Yglesias of 1963 would have been telling [JFK and LBJ] don’t touch this civil rights bill. It’s unpopular.” I thought this was one of the more fascinating exchanges with @mattyglesias.bsky.social, on how far politicians defer to public opinion. Full interview: zeteo.com/p/matt-ygles...

CEO of scandal-ridden Deloitte gets 45% pay rise to £7.1m, 1,360 jobs cut. CEO pay = 93 times median employee pay. Firm doesn't pay employer NIC on profits shared by partners, worth £150,000 for £1m profit shared. £899m shared. 108 govt contracts in 2026, worth £650m. Friends in high places.

What happens if the budget ignores Britain's real debt crisis? If you listen to what he will say, you'd think the national debt is our problem. It isn't. Private sector debt is three times bigger - and that is where the debt crisis will happen. youtu.be/szmZZwwtAm8?...

The Me that I Adore Teapot, 2013 by Yayoi Kusama #WomensArt

No one says the media shouldn't hold the SNP & ScotGov to account, but when only 1 newspaper out of 38 dailies & weeklies in Scotland supports indy, which has majority support in most polls, & pro-indy parties have won majorities in Holyrood since 2011, there's a huge problem of media imbalance.

"The Most Racist Election in Israel’s History" If Netanyahu stays, Israel will become a pariah state – so the Israeli establishment is doing everything it can to ensure that he loses. But a Gadi Eisenkot victory won’t help Palestinians either, writes Peter Oborne for Zeteo UK:

The experience of newly independent countries in Europe teaches us that an independent Scotland could rapidly establish a currency of its own, the proposals of the Scottish Currency Group @scg1.bsky.social point the way ahead. weegingerdug.wordpress.com/2026/10/25/n...

Me: "Adolf Hitler said in Mein Kampf, 'The Jew works for the destruction of Germany.' You say, 'Muslim mass migration will destroy our country and our way of life.' How are those different sentences? Just change 'Jew' for 'Muslim.' Trump adviser Steve Cortes: "No, they're incredibly different."

New tonight from @andrewperez.bsky.social and me for @zeteo.com zeteo.com/p/venues-sta...

Me: "You've said 'because of the war' maybe 7 times..." Ex-Trump adviser: "Because it spiked prices..." Me: "But you're treating the war like it's a natural disaster... like it fell from the sky. The war was started by your guy, deliberately, a war of choice." Full: www.youtube.com/watch?v=gLJV...

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Private equity buys UK fertility clinics. PE already controls social care, hospitals, GP surgeries, dentistry, child fostering. Usual business model. High debt, quality of care declines, prices increase, high profits. When things go wrong, NHS has to step in, PE doesn't pay.

As Israel goes to the polls, Palestinians of the Gaza Strip and the West Bank are ringside observers in a drama that will determine their future without a vote and without hope, writes Matt Frei. Read our latest newsletter:

Planting a tree means nothing if it dies a week later. Local authority tree planting is down 45%, and the trees we do plant are heavily imported, bringing biosecurity risks with them. @nationaltrust.org.uk #EcoSky #TreePlanting #GrownInBritain

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Please see this.

Healey to ensure state pension (SP) is not taxed for poorest pensioners, SP set to exceed personal allowance (PA). A person relying solely on SP will pay no income tax. Another with lower SP & other source for the same total income could pay tax. Unfair. Cliffe-edge issues. Increase PA for all.

Iranians Face Anxious Wait as Threat of Attack Looms The United States and Israel have drawn up plans to renew strikes against Iran, creating a sense of dread among war-weary residents. www.nytimes.com/2026/10/24/w...

#Poetry #Painting #Nighttime Tonight I am walking my dog on a bright moonlit avenue a glorious full moon above a yellow brick road neath my feet. - Robert Lust Steve Sanderson

Over to you, 🇺🇸 USA.

Politicians should look at the UK economy as a CEO would, says Lloyds Bank CEO From a bank that hasn't investigated HBOS frauds. No thank you. Companies enrich shareholders. Countries have entirely different purpose, governance, accountability. Must not be treated as corporations. archive.ph/lj45s

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A rare hit!

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Why do shareholders get the rewards when workers create the wealth a company generates? Is it time to rethink just what companies are for and to require that the rewards be shared more fairly? youtu.be/15r28WaimP8?...

Chen Peiqiu (1922 – 2020), acclaimed Chinese calligrapher and guohua painter #WomensArt

Insolvency scam The boss of twice-bust business back despite £3m debts. These people gut a company, HMRC and creditors not paid. Then buy assets cheaply from the administrator in pre-packs, and back in business. Gone on for decades. No transparency of administrator dealings. No investigation.

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Inside the wonderfully eccentric St Conan's Kirk on the north shore of Loch Awe in Argyll. Built from 1907 to 1930, it drew together what its designer considered to be the best or most interesting features found in many other churches. More pics and info: www.undiscoveredscot... #Scotland #Argyll

Stained glass artwork by English artist Tamsin Abbott. The #Fullmoon in October is known as #HuntersMoon #WomensArt

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'Tiree Wave' by Beth Robertson Fiddes, contemporary painter of Western Scottish sea and landscapes #womensart

The Scottish Government’s Resilience Room (SGoRR) has just convened, and the amber warning for wind remains in place in Scotland until 9pm tonight. To stay safe, please keep following the latest advice. My thanks to our emergency services and to everyone for playing their part.

For the majority, Burnham was massive failure - 'Manchester was becoming a “northern version of London” as an “insane” property crisis compounded the misery for the city’s 20,000 people on the social housing register.' www.theguardian.com/news/ng-inte...

A truth-teller who credits Scotland and they know to fear him in Pacific Quay: www.amazon.co.uk/dp/180429327...

Lorna Sharkey, contemporary artist, known for her hand painted stained glass artworks #Womensart #Sunday

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Beware of finance industry lobbying. It hired PwC (the firm that delivers dud audits) to produce a report, claiming that UK banks face highest rates of tax. The report included taxes not borne by banks. Omitted countries that levy higher rates of taxes. Integrity never gets in the way of profits.